A Child’s Compassion - The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional

A Child’s Compassion

Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.

Proverbs 22:9

My oldest son has always had a heart for the homeless population in our community. Whenever we ask how he’d like to extend kindness, he usually picks something geared toward the homeless. As a result, our family has bought food, served meals, and given gift cards to homeless men and women in our town.

When our missional community from church decided to assemble gift bags for the homeless as a service project, my son loved the idea. Each family collected basic supplies such as socks, toothbrushes, bottled water, soap, granola bars, gift cards, and more to be put together in gallon-sized bags to be distributed to the homeless around town. We set up an assembly line of people and supplies, explained to our children what we were doing and why, and then asked the older kids to pray over our supplies and the people who would receive them.

After we bagged all the supplies, each family took several bags to keep in their vehicles and hand out whenever they came across a homeless person. My kids were excited to give their bags away, and just a few days later we had the opportunity to hand out several of them. Things went well, and my family felt good about the way we’d been able to give to those who needed help in our city.

Although the project is complete, my son continues to remind me of the needs of the homeless in our area. He now has a greater understanding that the generous will themselves be blessed. He is quick to jump in and help, and his heart for those who are without a home has spurred my husband and me to continue helping the homeless as well.

Do you know someone whose passion for a certain cause or people group has moved you to action as well? Are there concerns or needs nearby that you could help alleviate? We all have something to give when we remember that no gift is too small.

—Kendra

— Today’s Act of Kindness —

Think of a need in your community and give something you have—a skill, time, money, or a physical resource—toward it.